Agenda item

Report by the Director of Law and Assurance.

The Committee is asked to agree the Statement and Action Plan and recommend their adoption through the signatures of the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive.

22.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Law and Assurance (copy appended to the signed minutes).

22.2     Mr Gauntlett, Senior Advisor – Democratic Services, introduced the report and informed the Committee that approval of the Annual Governance Statement had been delayed to align with the approval of the Financial Statements.  The statement was in line with climate change actions, and half of the seventeen actions had now been completed.

22.3     The Committee made comments including those that follow.

·     Sought clarity over the requirements for the publication of officer interests.  – Mr Gauntlett explained that members’ interests were published and that the Director of Law and Assurance was looking to install a robust system for officer interests.  Mr Gauntlett resolved to look into timescales for this.

·     Queried the milestones for the Teachers’ Pensions work and if the report reflected the current status.  – Mrs Eves, Director of Finance and Support Services, explained that the report outlined the relevant actions and that three had been completed.  The wording could be updated for the final version to reflect the remaining outstanding actions.

·     Question if any scale of the cost or impact had been considered for the Teachers’ Pension resolution.  – Mrs Chuter, Financial Reporting Manager, confirmed that officers were waiting on the Teachers Pension Scheme to finish calculating liabilities.  The figures also depended on how many individuals decided to opt into the scheme.  It was confirmed that reserves would be used to cover the interest portion of the liability.  Cost estimates could likely be calculated after March 2023 for the 2022/23 financial statements.

·     Queried if lessons could be learned in responding to changes in regulations.  – Mrs Eves gave reassurance that the County Council was always monitoring regulations and the impact of changes.  Network contacts were utilised to consider issues and how to respond to change.  Cllr Hunt, Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, added that the Pension Fund currently had a very efficient administration service which helped with a good response to change.

·     Asked about the frequency of use of the whistleblowing policy.  – Mr Gauntlett confirmed that the policy was used, but in low numbers.

·     Sought clarity on the progress of the new operating model for Finance as referenced in the update on the Financial Management Code.  – Mrs Eves explained that this focussed on a new finance and human resources system, and was an opportunity to look at rules and processes.  The work would be taking place over twelve months and would be an opportunity to make efficiencies.  Miss Williams, Deputy Chief Finance Officer, added that the hope was to automate manual processes which would allow officers to spend more time supporting services.

·     Noted the abolition of County Local Forums and queried the alternative provision for local member support.  – Mr Gauntlett explained that the County Council engaged with residents via different forums such as community partnerships, and via relationships with District and Borough Councils.

·     Sought clarity over the action relating to compliance and consistency for Directors.  – Mr Gauntlett explained that there was now more stability within senior management and the action was with the Executive Leadership Team to look at delegations to ensure appropriate consistency.

·     Queried progress on the cross Council Business Planning Group for operational service plans.  – Mrs Eves confirmed this was in place and was looking to bed in improved processes.  The 2024/25 Business Plan would show how this had been embedded.

22.4     Resolved – That the committee approves the 2021/22 draft audited Annual Governance Statement and Action Plan, and recommends adoption and signing of the Annual Governance Statement by the Leader of the Council and Chief Executive.